Area description continued:Major locations and attractions:Hilo, Volcano, Honaunau, Milolii, Kona Coast, Kohalo Coast, Kalaoa, Kealakekua, Keokea, Papa, Captain Cook, Opihikao, Honokohau, Puako, Ookala, Kawaihae, Kukuihaele, Pepeekeo, Kurtistown, Kaholo Bay, Univ. of Hawaii Observatory-Mauna Kea El 13,796 ft., Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii is an isolated archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,550 miles southwest of Los Angeles and about 3,900 miles southeast of Tokyo. It's comprised of 8 major islands (Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Niihau) and a series of smaller ones. Hawaii is the world's longest island chain. In fact this Archipelago consists of over 130 scattered points of land stretching 1,600 miles from the Kure Atoll in the north to the Island of Hawaii in the south. Politically Hawaii became part of North America as the 50th US state on August 21, 1959 but geographically, because of its isolated location, it is not considered part of any continent. Hawaii is the most isolated population center on earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California, 3,850 miles from Japan, 4,900 miles from China and 5,280 miles from the Philippines. The islands were first settled by Polynesians, possibly from the Marquesas, between 300 and 600 AD. On January 18, 1778 Captain James Cook, astonished to f